How bats benefit from goats eating weeds
The Little Brown Bat was emergency listed as Endangered under Canada’s Species at Risk Act because of sudden population declines due to White Nose Syndrome. But this is not the only threat facing these bats. Habitat loss, human disturbance, pollution, and climate change can all lead to population decline.
Invasive plants outcompete native vegetation, sometimes so aggressively that they create a monoculture. They can decrease the biodiversity of an area, leading to less available prey for bats. Management of invasive plants is necessary so native flora and fauna can flourish, and there are multiple ways to accomplish this.
One effective and innovative method is to use goats to browse on weeds, which also reduces the overall usage of pesticides, which may inadvertently be harmful to bats, their insect prey, and other species. This is Edmonton & Area Land Trust’s third year using goats at Pipestone Creek Conservation Land and Glory Hills.
EALT has seen a stark difference in the extent and density of invasive plants at these two conservation lands. Hundreds of goats at a time visit the lands, coming back to each site twice in a year. This repeated effort depletes those plants’ energy stores, leaving space for native flora to flourish. https://www.ealt.ca/blog/goats-helping-bats
Living dinosaur lurks in North Saskatchewan River
Despite the name, lake sturgeon are strictly river fish in Alberta, living in the North and South Saskatchewan river systems. A living dinosaur of the fish world, this unusual species is torpedo-shaped and armor-plated. It has a shark-like, upturned tail and a pointed snout with four barbels, whisker-like tissue filaments.
Like other prehistoric fish, sturgeon do not have scales, they have denticles. Denticles are scale-like plates found along the skin of the sturgeon, which give the skin its roughness. They also have five rows of bony plates, called scutes.
The usual habitat where lake sturgeon can be found are along highly productive shoals, which are ridges, banks or bars under water. With adequate bottom-dwelling prey, lake sturgeon can live in a variety of habitats. They are bottom feeders, eating clams, insect larvae and some fish and fish eggs.
Lake sturgeon take a longer time to reach maturity than other Alberta fish species. Male sturgeon do not spawn until they are about 15 to 20 years old. Females usually spawn between the ages of 20 and 25. Lake sturgeon can live up to 150 years, with the oldest fish in Alberta being recorded at 62 years old. https://www.alberta.ca/lake-sturgeon.aspx
Designing a bird friendly yard
Destruction of habitat is a leading cause of species extinction. After spending years walking, hiking and driving to photograph birds Melissa Penney tried something new. She decided to invite birds to come to her by spending the past decade making her yard a haven for native plants, animals and birds.
Melissa created a wildlife habitat by adding native plants, shelter and clean water. Her interests have expanded to gardening, native plants, lepidoptera and how it all works together. The Canadian Wildlife Federation has certified her yard as a wildlife friendly habitat.
Melissa now has Northern Flying Squirrel visits, multiple species of annual nesting birds and in 2022 had an incredible 76 different bird species visit. This number included her amazing experience with a male American Redstart for 45 days and a few other rarities which she did not think were possible to have in an Edmonton backyard. Watch her 5 ways to increase biodiversity in your backyard.
Federal funding will support planting 1.5 million trees in Edmonton
Janet writes “I would like to see trees in every concrete and asphalt parking lot to prevent the heat build up in those areas, provide needed shade for people walking to and from their vehicles, and to possibly absorb some of the fumes from motor vehicles. There should be a requirement for all parking lots to have trees at a certain number of feet from one another to protect us all from concrete's effects. Thanks for keeping the River Valley in everyone's focus!”
Three things to help Edmonton achieve a higher bird friendly status
Wayne emailed “An amendment is needed to Section 8 of the Parkland bylaw, Bylaw 2202. The problem is that while it is illegal to move, remove, cut or damage any tree, shrub, flower, other plant or deadfall, it is not illegal to remove the berries, fruit, nuts or seeds that river valley plants produce. In the fall it is not uncommon to see people carrying up to four 5-gallon buckets filled with berries gleaned by walking freely through the woods.
For most of our wildlife inhabitants these items are their only source of food. No food equals no animals and no birds. Berries, fruits, nuts and seeds are also the method through which our woodland areas renew vegetation. During our harsh winter and lean spring seasons, natural food sources are getting harder and harder for all manner of creature to find, and in many cases cannot be found.”
Bust of Maude Bowman by Don Begg, Heritage Trail along the Victoria Promenade
https://www.edmontonarts.ca/public-art/bust-of-maude-bowman
Comment or contribution
Please note that articles may not reflect the position of NSRVCS. River Valley News is meant to be a clearinghouse for the wide variety of opinions and ideas about Edmonton’s River Valley. Email river valley photos, event information, comments, or questions to nsrivervalley@gmail.com
